Can the 'Love Hormone' ease pain? small study tests oxytocin
NCT ID NCT04431206
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether a single IV dose of oxytocin, a natural hormone, could reduce pain from heat on the skin. It included 7 people — some healthy and some with severe knee arthritis. Researchers measured pain scores during a 5-minute heat test. The study was terminated early, so results are limited.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- oxytocin
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new way to manage pain using a natural hormone.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, terminated Phase 2 study with only 7 participants. It only measured pain from brief heat on the skin, not real-world arthritis pain. The results may not apply to broader populations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Wake Forest Baptist Health
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
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